Chapter 1030: The Situation Becomes Clear

When the Qing Wang first met Han Bai during their travels, they once acquired the ultimate treasure from Meiyu Xianzi's cave—the 【Luminous Teleportation Talisman】—of which only two existed, one for each of them.

He did not know the specifics of Han Bai's 【Luminous Teleportation Talisman】, but his own was used on the Guardian Stone Lion, which allowed him, at the most perilous moment, to escape from Jing Shan with the dying Meiyu Xianzi's aid, her techniques synchronized with the talisman.

Thinking of this, the Qing Wang extended his right index finger, fixing his gaze downward on Fang Yue, while in his left hand he held a tubular vessel filled with golden liquid.

"Yese Liming, I have brought you the corpse of Meiyu Xianzi. Now, I shall fulfill my duty as ruler of Qing Guo… eradicate all evil demons, and ensure Qing Guo's eternal peace!"

As his words ended, the Qing Wang uncorked the vessel, and the golden liquid within immediately emitted a thick, bloody stench!

"Immortal Soul Essence Blood?" The Black Qing Gui's eyelid twitched; his demeanor grew noticeably more serious.

"Fascinating—truly fascinating. It seems you obtained what you sought in Jing Shan. But can this truly free you from the Qing Bird's fate?"

"One must try."

The Qing Wang replied calmly, showing no concern that the Black Qing Gui might strike—though reduced to a ruined vessel, the Black Qing Gui still bore the title of Transcendence-level Weird; its pride forbade such base actions. Moreover, since the beginning, the Black Qing Gui had never truly regarded the Qing Wang as a threat.

This arrogance will be your ruin.

His gaze turned icy; the Qing Wang drank the Immortal Soul Essence Blood in one gulp. As the liquid passed his throat, golden patterns, faint yet distinct, emerged across his body. His aura surged violently—his former air of supreme authority vanished, replaced by a sharp, sword-like edge that cut through the air.

Even the surrounding air currents, as they brushed against him, emitted strange metallic screeching sounds, faintly resembling… the Phoenix Cry!

"Roar!!"

As if answering this Phoenix Cry, the Guardian Stone Lion on the ground suddenly shifted as if controlled by a new will—its petrified surface rearranged and reformed, sprouting fine, lifelike lion fur as if newly grown.

The cracks in its head, previously shattered by the Black Qing Gui, healed rapidly within the Phoenix Cry, and it let out a thunderous roar, soaring into the sky to hover beside the Qing Wang.

Its massive stone eyes, now alive and vivid, moved with startling spirit, gently nuzzling against the Qing Wang's side in affection.

This was no longer the stiff, monstrous stone beast of before—it was clearly a well-trained, obedient little lion cub.

If the Qing Wang alone was the symbol of Qing Guo, then with the Guardian Stone Lion, he embodied the very peak of Qing Guo's power.

It was this pair—man and lion—that had kept Qing Guo's ten thousand li of mountains and rivers under control, safeguarded countless lives, and forced countless Weirds within its borders to stir restlessly yet never dare overstep a single step.

The man and the lion hovered above the ruined Imperial Palace, like divine beings descending with hope.

Below, everyone was overcome with excitement.

"The King… will prevail!"

"How many years has it been since His Majesty last acted? Who would have thought, in this lifetime, we'd witness His Majesty's divine feat again!"

"The rumors that he hasn't moved in years because his power has declined and he dares not show himself? Nonsense! His Majesty still possesses the same might as before!"

"Heaven blesses Qing Guo! Heaven blesses His Majesty!"

Yet amid this wave of fervor, Fang Yue stared blankly at the golden patterns on His Majesty's body, murmuring softly.

"Parchment… the golden patterns on His Majesty's body are…?"

【Yes, they are 【Ancient Words】! He has inked countless Ancient Word patterns onto his own body—even resembling the old witch's methods to some degree!】

"Meiyu Xianzi?"

【Yes. Either his connection to the old witch runs deep, or he obtained part of her legacy from somewhere.】

Fang Yue recalled how, the first time he met the Qing Wang, the Qing Wang had asked him about Meiyu Xianzi.

At the time, he felt nothing unusual; now, looking back, that tone was not that of someone inquiring after an old friend—it was the tone of one who had searched for years, and finally saw a glimmer of hope.

Coupled with the fact that both Lord Han and the Qing Wang had once possessed that unique teleportation talisman, they must have both received Meiyu Xianzi's legacy from the same cave.

Meiyu Xianzi's true body existed in the real world, yet her arrangements within The Blue Sea left Fang Yue stunned—spanning centuries, reaching across vast distances, even touching remote regions like Qing Guo, where only rumors of Meiyu Xianzi had ever existed.

"The Cheater… is incredibly powerful."

Watching the Qing Wang and the Black Qing Gui briefly face off before soaring higher, then colliding violently amid deafening thunder and lightning, until Black Cloud reformed and obscured their forms, Fang Yue clenched his fist in silence.

"And what of me? As a second-generation player, as a Broken One—what can I do for humanity's survival?"

As Fang Yue stood lost in thought, a hand suddenly rested on his shoulder.

Fang Yue turned—and there stood Wu Captain, barely restored to human form.

Wu Captain wore a smile of relief, barely contained after surviving death.

"Good! His Majesty and the Four Elders have returned—we can all survive now! All that's left is to rescue An Dong'er."

Survive…

Those three words suddenly jolted Fang Yue awake; his entire body relaxed.

Yes—we all survived.

I am neither Meiyu Xianzi nor the Qing Wang. Human strength has limits. To ensure those around me live—that is my utmost effort.

Beyond that, saving humanity in the real world would be ideal; if I cannot, it is no fault. I need only give my all.

As they spoke, the Four Elders of Qing Guo had already clashed with the King of Wu Yu.

"You destroyed the foundation of You Family, slaughtered the pillars of our nation! King of Wu Yu, even if I must sacrifice my life, I will take you down!"

This was the first time Fang Yue had seen You Lao so enraged—but it was no surprise. The Capital was in chaos, You Family was obliterated, and how many of their clan remained alive was unknown.

Under such circumstances, who could remain rational?

The other three Elders were much the same—each unleashed their full power from the outset.

In truth, outside His Majesty, these four Elders were Qing Guo's strongest. Together, even against a Mo-level Weird, they could fight evenly.

The Four Elders' sudden surge of power caught the King of Wu Yu off guard—he was immediately overwhelmed, pushed to the defensive. With their flawless coordination, the situation grew increasingly clear.

Though the Four Departments of Qing Guo—Qing Si and the others—were rivals, even bitterly opposed over interests, before the great cause of Qing Guo, they trusted one another completely, entrusting their lives to each other, moving as one, with not a single flaw.

Back and forth, they had completely sealed off the King of Wu Yu's movements.

(End of Chapter)